This Week: Notre Dame College will hit the road again for a four-game weekend series at Ohio Dominican University. The two sides have doubleheaders scheduled for Saturday and Sunday with first pitch at 1:00 p.m. on both days.
 
Records: NDC begins the week at 0-3, while ODU is currently 1-2 on the young season. Last season, Notre Dame finished 17-23 (14-18 MEC) as Ohio Dominican went 28-11 (19-9 GMAC).
 
Coaches Corner: Len Barker is in his 11^th season at the helm of the NDC baseball program for the 2022 season. Barker has a career record of 200-246. Christopher Antonides is in his fourth season as head coach of Ohio Dominican.
 
Rankings: Neither team is ranked according to the National College Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) poll.
 
Series History: Notre Dame is 0-11 all-time when facing Ohio Dominican, dating back to their first meeting in 2008. Most recently, NDC fell 10-5 at ODU on Feb. 28, 2021.
 
Noting the Falcons: Notre Dame College is coming off their season opening series at the University of Indianapolis last weekend where the Falcons went 0-3, falling 5-0 on Friday then 15-14 and 13-3 in a doubleheader on Sunday.
 
Despite the losses, NDC flashed several moments of brilliance during the series as a handful of Falcons generated impressive offensive days. Ben Ross enjoyed 7-15 at the plate during the series with two double, two home runs, including one grand slam and five RBIs. Kyle Espineli went 4-9, adding a double, a triple and a pair of RBIs. Alec Mendoza carried a hot bat through the weekend as he led Notre Dame with six runs driven in. Mendoza was 4-11 at the dish with a double and a home run.
 
On the bump, Falcon ace Austin Mora enjoyed a solid opening day when he tossed six innings, allowing one earned and striking out seven Greyhounds. Mora allowed just three hits during his outing, surrendering a mere 1.50 opponent batting average. Kyle Farrell and Aaron Miller came out of the pen to each throw an inning of scoreless relief for Notre Dame during the weekend. Both pitchers sent down a pair of UIndy players.
 
As a whole, NDC has a slash line of .229/.308/.381 (BA/OBP/SLG) with 17 runs score, five doubles, a triple and three home runs. On the mound, the Falcons currently show a 9.75 ERA, 2.29 WHIP, .320 opponent batting average, to go along with 21 strikeouts and 22 walks allowed.
 
Noting the Panthers: Ohio Dominican will enter this series after going 1-2 last week against California (Pa.). ODU lost the first two contests 1-0 and 8-0 on Wednesday but bounced back to claim a 5-3 victory on Sunday.
 
Michael Knapp went 5-11 and Brennen Hunt hit 5-12 (5 stolen bases) to lead ODU in batting average through their first three games. Knapp and Derek Kutrubs tallied the Panthers only doubles during the week, as Lane Marshall generated the most important hit for Ohio Dominican with a three-run RBI triple. Otherwise, Marshall hit 0-9 during the rest of the series.   
 
Ohio Dominican displayed a stronger showing in the pitching department led by ace Scott Rouse. Rouse opened the season for the Panthers tossing 6.0 innings, striking out seven and allowing just one hit and one run, which ultimately decided the game. Derek Bolander tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief for ODU flashing three strikeouts. Tyler Sullivan earned the lone win during his 3.1 innings of relief in game three. Sullivan allowed one earned and struck out five to pick up the victory.
 
As a team, Ohio Dominican is slashing .213/.307/.258 with five runs scored, two doubles and one triple. In terms of pitching, the Panthers have a 4.30 ERA, .273 opponent batting average, to go along with 24 strikeouts and 11 walks allowed.